Re: Addition of new use case: Creation of “virtual observations” from “analysis” phase of weather prediction model

Hi Jeremy,

just a minor note. SSN supports virtual observations.

Best,
Krzysztof

On 03/23/2015 04:32 AM, Jeremy Tandy wrote:
> All - I have added another use case primarily of interest to 
> SSN: [Creation of “virtual observations” from “analysis” phase of 
> weather prediction model][1]. It revolves around the use of numerical 
> simulations to create “virtual observations” rather than the 
> “sensor-stimulus-observation” model which is at the heart of SSN.
>
> I include the text of the Use Case below for reference:
> —
> National Meteorological Services (NMS), such as Met Office 
> <http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/>, maintain a network of weather 
> observation sites within their region of responsibility in order, 
> amongst other things, to provide input to their numerical weather 
> prediction models. The cost of maintaining these weather observation 
> sites means that their number is limited.
> Within the UK, and likely in other places too, there is a high demand 
> for weather observations for specific locations. To meet this demand, 
> the Met Office provides data for many more locations than the number 
> of weather observation sites they maintain. In order to do this, 
> “virtual observations” for these locations are derived from the 
> “analysis” of the numerical weather prediction model. (“Analysis” is 
> the term used to describe the initial state of the numerically 
> modelled atmosphere from which the forecast is calculated; it 
> incorporates real observations and provides a dynamically balanced 
> representation of the atmosphere at a snapshot in time.)
> The metadata needed to provide context to a “virtual observation" is 
> identical to that for normal observations; albeit that the procedure 
> used to create the observation involves a computational simulation 
> rather than a physical sensor and stimulus. Clearly, it is important 
> to provide information about the procedure used to create the 
> observation so that “real” observations can be distinguished from 
> “virtual” observations.
> The Observations and Measurements (O&M, ISO 19156) is sufficiently 
> flexible enough to accommodate use of a computational simulation for 
> the observation procedure. However, the Semantic Sensor Network model 
> is (appears to be?) rooted in the “sensor-stimulus-observation” model 
> and, as such, does not seem to be applicable to cases such as “virtual 
> observations”.
> —
>
> Jeremy
>
> [1]: 
> https://www.w3.org/2015/spatial/wiki/Working_Use_Cases#Creation_of_.E2.80.9Cvirtual_observations.E2.80.9D_from_.E2.80.9Canalysis.E2.80.9D_phase_of_weather_prediction_model_.28primarily_SSN.3B_also_Best_Practice_.26_Time_.29


-- 
Krzysztof Janowicz

Geography Department, University of California, Santa Barbara
4830 Ellison Hall, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4060

Email: jano@geog.ucsb.edu
Webpage: http://geog.ucsb.edu/~jano/
Semantic Web Journal: http://www.semantic-web-journal.net